Allen's expression here is often confused with the emotion of surprise by nonverbal novices. And although it shares some commonalities with surprise, it's not the equivalent. The key to this distinction is the configuration of Allen's jaw. Note how it's partially opened - but not wide (as with surprise). The colloquial term for this jaw position is "Slack Jawed" or "Mouth Agape". The muscles which open the mouth (masseter, temporalis and internal pterygoid) are relaxed - and the mandible (jaw) just hangs there. It's profoundly important that when this emotion is sincere (e.g., not being feigned) - no teeth are visible.

Notice that his eyelids are also more opened than baseline - but not very widely (versus the eyes of significant surprise). His gaze is fixed at mid-distance - and although that's where Curry and his basketball are, this is another key component of this highly characteristic expression.

Allen's face is that of emotional shock/emotional processing - not surprise. It signals to us that the intellect knows what is happening - but the emotional brain can't (yet) process what's occurring.

Subscribe To Body Language Success

As a Body Language Expert & Physician, I've benefited dramatically from the Art and Science of Nonverbal Communication for more than 20 years.

______________________________

This website serves as a reference source for the art and science of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the author. In an effort to be both practical and academic, many examples from/of varied cultures, politicians, professional athletes, legal cases, public figures, etc., are cited in order to teach and illustrate both the interpretation of others’ body language as well as the projection of one’s own nonverbal skills in many different contexts – not to advance any political, religious or other agenda.

This website serves as a reference source for the art and science of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the author. In an effort to be both practical and academic, many examples from/of varied cultures, politicians, professional athletes, legal cases, public figures, etc., are cited in order to teach and illustrate both the interpretation of others’ body language as well as the projection of one’s own nonverbal skills in many different contexts – not to advance any political, religious or other agenda.